Spitzer visits Syracuse

Dick Blume / The Post-StandardGov Eliot Spitzer greets Carol Charles along East Genesee Street in Syracuse as he tours the area where Syracuse University wants to have a Connective Corridor. In the center of the photo is Eric Spina, Vice Chancellor of Syracuse University.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer talked with The Post-Standard editorial board this morning about what he called "an event that I'm not going to pretend didn't happen."

That event was the request for state police, made by two of Spitzer's aides, to compile information about the use of public aircraft by Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno under the pretense of a request for information by a newspaper reporter. Although cleared of any illegal acts, a subsequent review by the state Attorney General's office led to the suspension of one aide, the reassignment of another and a call by the state Senate for further inquiry.

"It is deeply troubling to me what happened," Spitzer said. "I want you to hear from me, had I ever known, suspected, believed, thought that the state police were asked to do something out of the ordinary, I would have said 'Stop immediately. What's going on? You can't do this.'"

Spitzer said mixing politics and law enforcement is almost like mixing church and state.

"You don't cross that line. It is deeply troubling to me that people were asked to do things out of the ordinary," Spitzer said.

After meeting with the Post-Standard, Spitzer embarked on a tour of the Connective Corridor on East Genesee Street in Syracuse. At 10 a.m., he was scheduled to talk about economic redevelopment at a groundbreaking for the Maple Heights Housing development on East Genesee Street.